Arsenal could take up option to re-sign striker for £3.25 million but remain
in negotiations to sell him back to Real Sociedad or another European club

Arsenal are ready to take up their option to re-sign Carlos Vela but remain in negotiations to sell him back to Real Sociedad or potentially another European club.

As part of the deal that saw Vela join Sociedad in 2011 for £2.5 million, Arsenal negotiated a buy-back option that allowed them to re-sign him at the end of his contract for £3.25 million.

Vela has had a productive three seasons in Spain, scoring 36 goals and would surely have a higher resale value than the £3.25 million fee that Arsenal would have to pay. So, although Vela is set to become Arsenal’s player again, they may still sell him before he plays for the club.

Sociedad are interested – and are in talks with Arsenal about a new permanent deal – but there are also other interested clubs.

Arsenal do still want to sign a striker this summer but there is no real sense that Vela is regarded as the answer. If Vela did stay at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger would still try to make a major signing in attack.